A post mentioning R’s internal response strategy has appeared on the internet blog of a German broadcaster. The title is blatant:
"R’s Response Readiness and Strategic Stance Toward Spacecraft."
At first, he lets out a hollow laugh. He tries to dismiss it as just another fringe political blog.
But the moment he scrolls down, the laughter vanishes.
The information embedded between the lines is no mere speculation.
Details that should never have leaked to the outside world are written there in their entirety.
Someone opened their mouth. Or, someone opened the door.
Even if it is just an internet political blog, he cannot be careless.
Online, a single spark becomes a wildfire in an instant. He knows this better than anyone.
Public opinion spreads faster than a bullet. And once information is out, it can never be retrieved.
Ivanovich glares at the monitor, reading down the article line by line as if chewing and swallowing every word. His fingers gradually grow stiff.
His grip on the mouse tightens until his knuckles turn white.
The moment he confirms the final sentence, his jaw sets firm.
With the screech of his chair scraping the floor, he bolts upright from his desk.
“How on earth did this article come out of Germany?!” Ivanovich roars.
[ Title: Does the Spacecraft Desire Peace More Than Earthlings? ]
...The fact that R remains unrepentant fills us with sorrow.
The justification and pretext for invading U have lost their meaning, faded by the sacrifices of countless young soldiers.
Whether R wins this war or not, its global reputation has already plummeted.
...With the appearance of the spacecraft, the war has entered a lull, and an agreement has been reached to hold prisoner exchanges and talks between the two nations. The fact that the spacecraft participated as a mercenary for Nation U holds two major significances.
First, it has received legal and institutional authorization. In other words, it participated in combat under the status of a mercenary. This indicates that the spacecraft has no strategic intent to attack the entire Earth.
Second, by becoming a mercenary for Nation U rather than R, it chose a weak nation over a superpower. This implies humanitarian support for a nation with less power. It signifies a desire to realize peace for all nations on Earth.
Based on these two facts, it is significant that the spacecraft used no violent methods whatsoever in its military actions on the front lines or in the squares. This could be a sign that the spacecraft wishes to cooperate with Earth.
...Considering all these circumstances, we should not view the spacecraft as an enemy, but engage in dialogue and cooperation as our friend. Fortunately, the captain of the spacecraft possesses a physical body like an Earthling and looks human. How fortunate is that?
...R must end the war and come to the negotiating table with U.
However, according to recently obtained information, it has been confirmed that R has redeployed soldiers around the spacecraft, is attempting to find its weaknesses, and is even considering an attack plan. What is shocking is that the United States is not opposing these plans....
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The Director of Defense Intelligence glares at Igor in a fit of rage.
“Explain yourself. The rest of the article aside,
how do they know about us redeploying soldiers around the spacecraft and our preparations for an attack plan?” Ivanovich asks.
Igor swallows hard before speaking.
“There is a female reporter from our country who passed the information to the German journalist.”
“A female reporter? Which news agency is she with?”
“An outlet called Vnarod. Her name is Natasha.”
“Natasha? Then how did Natasha get that information?”
A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
“Well...” Igor hesitates for a moment. “Actually, not long ago, when the spacecraft landed in the square next to our government building and was about to depart,
that alien woman mentioned she would use a soldier named ‘Vadim’ as a liaison. Do you remember?”
“Ah... I remember. He was a low-ranking soldier standing guard outside the square... and?”
“Vadim’s hometown friend is Natasha. Our investigation confirmed a record of phone calls between the two.”
“Are they both anti-government, then?”
“That doesn't seem to be the case,” a cautious voice flows through the air, cutting through the room.
“Vadim does not appear to be anti-government. Rather… Natasha is the problem. She is classified as anti-government and a pacifist. Currently,
Vadim is deployed to the front lines, and Natasha is scheduled to join the front as a war correspondent soon.”
The aide holds his breath after finishing the report.
A moment of silence passes.
The Director of Defense Intelligence says nothing for a long time.
The rage that was surging just a moment ago has already sunk beneath the surface. He slowly leans back into his chair.
His right hand rises slowly to touch his forehead. His eyes are closed, and his fingertips press against his temples.
The excitement is gone, but in its place, a more complex calculation is forming.
Vadim is at the front. Natasha is headed there. At the hottest point of the war, the soldier and the reporter will meet again.
Is it a coincidence, or a deployment orchestrated by someone?
He lowers his hand and slowly opens his eyes. The air in the room has settled heavily.
It is the silence of a man deep in thought. And within that silence, another option quietly emerges.
“Igor, listen carefully to what I say from now on.”
The Director’s voice is low, but it instantly dominates the room.
“We cannot have an anti-government reporter. The fact that Natasha is a woman is not a consideration. Exclude all emotion.”
He pauses for a moment. His fingertips slowly tap the desk.
“However, at this point, arrest or detention is the worst move. The eyes of the world are on this war. It’s obvious that accusations of suppressing press freedom would pour in.”
His gaze slowly turns toward Igor. It is a cold, calculating look.
“So, authorize her reporting at the front. Make the process as public as possible. Leave official approval documents. We must appear as a tolerant government.”
Igor senses an strange undertone but keeps his mouth shut. The Director leans forward slightly.
“And at the front… we control the situation. Eliminate Natasha there. Form a team discreetly and disguise it as an accident.”
He avoids specific phrasing, but the meaning is fully conveyed.
“Yes, but Director, there is one more important matter.
Although it's not a problem for our agency to handle, I obtained some information that the U.S. has created a new agency called JSTR to respond to the spacecraft, and that agency has reportedly arrested a woman who might be connected to the craft.”
“Hmm… I see. That matter is for other intelligence agencies in the country to handle.”
Natasha slowly opens her eyes to the warm sunlight streaming through the window.
The sunlight at the end of winter is softer than expected.
Instead of the artillery fire of the front lines, there is silence here. For a brief moment, it feels as if the world is pretending to be at peace.
The mobile phone lying on the nightstand next to the bed comes into view. Even though it is Saturday morning, she picks up the phone and opens the message window. After a moment's hesitation, she taps the editor-in-chief's name.
Her fingers move quickly.
“Why hasn’t the approval text for my war correspondent authorization arrived yet?”
The departure for the front lines is scheduled for next Monday, yet Natasha still hasn’t received her permit from the government authorities.
Anxiety begins to gnaw at her. A chilling thought crosses her mind: Does the government know I met Emma?
Sitting on the edge of her bed, Natasha slowly scrolls through her phone screen.
It is Emma’s article, sent from Germany. Sharp analysis is hidden within its calm prose.
The movements on the front, the reactions of the international community, and the internal atmosphere of R are all intricately woven together.
In R, the internet isn't completely shut down yet. However, calling it "free" feels suffocating.
Most domestic and foreign sites with anti-war sentiments are blocked; any attempt to access them results in a cold, indifferent warning message flashing on the screen.
As 2026 progressed, the control became even more insidious, using the pretext of defending against enemy drone attacks.
Overseas SIM cards must undergo a 24-hour verification process upon arrival in R.
During that window, the phone is effectively neutralized. It is a method of binding time rather than simply cutting off signals.
The name "security" is always persuasive.
Because of these policies, many German websites won't even load.
The screens remain frozen, and information stays trapped outside the borders.
Yet, strangely, the blog for Deutsche W, where Emma works, remains accessible.
Perhaps it hasn't made the blocklist yet, or maybe it simply hasn't caught their attention.
Natasha copies the article and posts it anonymously to several journalist communities via Telegram.
This is an incredibly dangerous act. In the current climate of R, intentionally spreading unblocked foreign news is no trivial prank.
However, a faint smile spreads across Natasha's lips. It isn't fear; it is a different emotion entirely.
She feels as though she has reclaimed something.
In the kitchen, she pours boiling water into a teacup for some black tea.
From the turntable, a vinyl record given to her by her grandmother begins to spin, and music fills the room.
Natasha is only 23, a member of Gen Z, but she is also part of the "Newtro" generation with a deep appreciation for all things analog.
The sweet melody of Alla Pugacheva's "Kings Can Do Everything" (Всё могут короли) flows from the player,
gently embracing the rising steam of her black tea and drifting into every corner of the small kitchen.
Caught up in the rhythm, she holds her teacup and begins to dance, singing along to the tune.
Suddenly, her phone chimes with a notification.
“Natasha, the government approval just came through. Be at the office by 8:00 AM this Monday.”
Outside, winter is deepening as the middle of November passes by.